Call for Admin Role!

As this forum needs a revival, it is difficult to run this forum alone. Catherine (@wynstep) has not answered to my previous post. I don’t know if she will. I don’t even know if she could harm the site. So, I have removed her admin priviledge.
A panel of three admins would be perfect. Even two would be fine.

Criteria:
1. Sincere for the cause of the forum.
2. Active participation in forum activities.
3. Innovative.

Comment on this post by Thursday, Janauary 7, 12 noon (GMT).

---

I’m calling all the authors of the forum here. I don’t know how many of you are still active and want to contribute here. You should at least know about the changes happening here. Please let me know if you want to continue contributing as author.
@ishitarc1908 @wordsfromarifa @21timetraveler @arpitastravelblog @thelink19 @theakilaedlajournal @adriennea3 @infobloomer @raniamanda @twinkietalks @amommasview @anandartist @ananyabha @andysmerdon @angieskitchenshenanigans @annfishervirtualworld @agord2015 @anushababbar @anwyn84 @janimey @jaipurthrumylens @ashishvision @audreydcunningham @kingsoracle @thecajkovic @beckybwinch @bennabdycollins @bethanyaharvey @bobbyshabangu @brendablagdon @btarmstrong @beckyaluoch @camelliasentry @cathylynnbrooks @chrissiepollock @caa1032 @cmssr @colettebates @continuingwithme @crawcraftsbeasties @createtoenchant @cyndilenz @wynstep @dancinglightofgrace @darshith0000 @dalees107 @derekjlee @devilrockz @diane507 @divorcinganarc @donnainthesouth @dsmcknight @dj120 @esk11 @empress2inspire @escapetolife @feelings161 @fictionalkevin @funsimplicity @foodeezjunction @gadouer @garthmr @garyloggins @geekkate @gritsandpineconescom @getyourlenson @gutsy4 @haripriyakm @hlindschinger @himadas @hst4haiku @infobloomer @iaminaplace @iamabloggertoo @icerene01 @indira2412 @irenecorl4u2013 @ivanproust @insomniacbee @iamdonovan @janimey @jaipurthrumylens @jadekeahi @jahnavichintakunta @jdjung @jeanburkespraker @jsackmom @jenmotivates12 @jennierawling @jgreenwwl @jessmcombs @joseelavallee @myusername432 @justdreadfull @kangopie @kayeraye @kmmyrman @keithmiketom @kelliblogs @kokoboocro @koolitzable @kmmyrman @laduchessederat @languorouspages @lifeobserverwrites @lizarebeca @loriastratton @lulaharp @lyndapoysor @lilacsky22 @maddy1953 @mylittlespaceinthesun @mumbletymuse @mkjackie99 @myusername432 @maidsdayoff @mariawanders @marja1701 @megselizabeth86 @meloheart @drmegsorick @sumitagrawal01 @middleagedrager @missams35 @mray0n @dhyanmukta @insomniacbee @nandininautiyal @natashart @neildsilva @niciacruz @nicolaauckland @nikimeadows01 @niyati16 @noorainsobiya @notionlux @myesteriousgirlneerja @offshoreausterity @ohmyglai @oliveole @onetarhayes @donnamcmillen300 @avenscent @preciousvalencia1 @princeramsey @ramida78 @ranu802 @rdmaxwell55 @robertmgoldstein @rugwed @revrumblefish @raforbeginners @lilacsky22 @sashay909 @sasmiths1112 @sabahahmed252015 @sabahbatul110 @sadhanacs @samjhamdy @santoshnc @sarahsatticoftreasures @cthisnthat @sheridanj2015 @shinepositivepower @squeezzoo @shubh2110 @sirtonix @srinathtk86 @ssfeathersbones @revrumblefish @stanito @startingtheclimb @suekwoodward @suzieqsavings @surbhisachdeva89 @suzannebowditch @teiyaoloilolesoipei @theanonymoustalker @thedesivagabond @transporterlegacy @tradru @theartofamessyhouse @thebrunetteinthepinkscarf @thediybistro @celiacathlete @thismodernitch @thumbup69 @tourmalinenow @vellissima @vikrambishla @itsvishakha @wanderlaur @wynstep @welshshortbread @continuingwithme @whatsandrathinks @whitneyparchman @xaranahara @sassandsauce @yentll02 @zenaidawheels

Sandeept (@sandeept252)

You’re Invited: BW PARTY

Party Date: 23 October

2 days to go!

All invited whether or not ever having been active members of this forum – bring all your “friends and relations”, business associates and the lonely old lady who lives next door! The more, the merrier!

Come and introduce your blogs, get to know others and have fun!

@ishitarc1908, @niciacruz, @wordsfromarifa, @21timetraveler, @thelink19, @adriennea3, @infobloomer, @raniamanda, @amommasview, @anandartist, @andysmerdon, @angieskitchenshenanigans, @annfishervirtualworld, @agord2015, @anushababbar, @arpitastravelblog, @thecajkovic, @bennabdycollins, @bethanyaharvey, @bobbyshabangu, @brendablagdon, @cathylynnbrooks, @niyati16, @colettebates, @darshith0000, @audreydcunningham, @camelliasentry, @wynstep, @princeramsey, @clockworkindigo, @visionofdestinyuganda, @continuingwithme, @crawcraftsbeasties, @dawnmarie823, @derekjlee, @devilrockz, @divorcinganarc, @donnainthesouth, @dj120, @drmegsorick, @dhyanmukta, @createtoenchant, @laikassuvaikais, @languorouspages, @megselizabeth86, @thestayengagedexperiment, @esk11, @feelings161, @fictionalkevin, @avenscent, @funsimplicity, @getyourlenson, @lizarebeca, @foodeezjunction, @agord2015, @garthmr, @garyloggins, @thegeneviever, @mumbletymuse, @gritsandpineconescom, @gritsandpineconescom, @myusername432, @robertmgoldstein, @bethanyaharvey, @haripriyakm, @hlindschinger, @hjsportsed, @contenttocapture, @hst4haiku, @kristinavanhoos, @lulaharp, @maddy1953, @onetarhayes, @iaminaplace, @iamabloggertoo, @indira2412, @irenecorl4u2013, @ivanproust, @insomniacbee, @janimey, @mkjackie99, @jahnavichintakunta, @aventuraroxy, @jessmcombs, @jeanburkespraker, @jsackmom, @jennierawling, @ashishvision, @jadekeahi, @justdreadfull, @kayeraye, @kelliblogs @k, @koolitzable @k, @dalees107, @laikassuvaikais, @laduchessederat, @lifeobserverwrites, @loriastratton, @confusionandknitting, @mylittlespaceinthesun, @kmmyrman, @maidsdayoff, @alongthesideoftheroad, @nandininautiyal, @neildsilva, @nicolaauckland, @worthinessambassador, @noorainsobiya, @santoshnc, @notionlux, @alongthesideoftheroad, @offshoreausterity, @ohmyglai, @sarahsatticoftreasures @o, @teiyaoloilolesoipei, @teiyaoloilolesoipei, @donnamcmillen300, @princeramsey, @iaminaplace, @lyndapoysor, @pamkirst2014, @preciousvalencia1, @piyushavir, @whitneyparchman, @raniamanda, @middleagedrager, @ramida78, @ranu802, @rdmaxwell55, @robertmgoldstein, @lilacsky22, @raforbeginners, @camelliasentry, @funsimplicity, @loriastratton, @beckyaluoch, @sumitagrawal01, @sashay909, @natashart, @sasmiths1112, @btarmstrong, @anandartist, @sirtonix, @bennabdycollins @iamdonovan, @vellissima, @vikrambishla, @wordsfromarifa, @suekwoodward, @wanderlusteternal, @welshshortbread, @whitneyparchman, @xaranahara, @yentll02, @justdreadfull, @revrumblefish

Apologies to anyone who accidentally got left out, whose @ call sign didn’t work, those who got pinged twice (three times?), &c., &c.! I repeat: All are invited whether listed above or not! Hope to see you all on the 23rd!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all – and since we’re not meant to publish loads of pictures here in order not to slow the site down, here’s a link to my Christmas photo post:

Christmas Lights on the Cutty Sark

This forum seems a bit dead recently…

…so in addition to wishing you all a merry Christmas, this is a wake-up call – in case any of you would like to continue here, it might be a good new year’s resolution to return here to post and chat again.

So I hope you will forgive me for tagging you all (I will not keep doing this):

@21timetraveler @adriennea3 @anandartist @ananyabha @anushababbar @anwyn84 @arpitastravelblog @avenscent @aventuraroxy @beckyaluoch @beckybwinch @bethanyaharvey @bharath10291 @brendablagdon @camelliasentry @cathylynnbrooks @colettebates @continuingwithme @createtoenchant @cthisnthat @dalees107 @darshith0000 @devilrockz @dawnmarie823 @divorcinganarc @drmegsorick @feelings161 @fictionalkevin @foodeezjunction @fjjjuneau @francescabergamasco @freakreborn @garthmr @garyloggins @getyourlenson @graceanneoscar @gutsy4 @haripriyakm @himadas @iamabloggertoo @hlindschinger @iamdonovan @icerene01 @insomniacbee @indira2412 @ishitarc1908 @ivanproust @jahnavichintakunta @jaipurthrumylens @jdjung @jenmotivates12 @jennifernicholewells @jessmcombs @joseelavallee @jsackmom @justdreadfull @koolitzable @kristinavanhoos @laduchessederat @laikassuvaikais @lilacsky22 @lulaharp @lyndapoysor @maddy1953 @maidsdayoff @meloheart @missams35 @mkjackie99 @mumbletymuse @myesteriousgirlneerja @myusername432 @nandininautiyal @niciacruz @niyati16 @notionlux @ohmyglai @oliveole @onetarhayes @pamkirst2014 @piyushavir @raforbeginners @ranu802 @revrumblefish @robertmgoldstein @rugwed @sadhanacs @sandeept252 @santoshnc @sashay909 @sasmiths1112 @sheridanj2015 @shinepositivepower @sirtonix @srinathtk86 @stanito @startingtheclimb @sumitagrawal01 @surbhisachdeva89 @suzannebowditch @theanonymoustalker @thedesivagabond @thegeneviever @thepreciouslifeofprecious @vellissima @vikrambishla @vnajac @wanderlaur @wanderlusteternal @welshshortbread @whatsandrathinks @wordsfromarifa @worthinessambassador @wynstep @xaranahara

If I missed anybody out, my apologies, you all were meant to be included!

Celebration (Photo Prompt – 9 June)

Calling all photographers… that is:

• people who fancy themselves photographers…
• people who are photographers but don’t fancy themselves…
• people who fancy becoming photographers…
• people who… you got it!

Calling also all and sundry non-photographers who have something to say upon the subject of CELEBRATION – being this week’s prompt – in any shape or form, let it be a haiku or cocktail mixing instructions (as long as you’re accompanying it with a photo, obviously)!

To take part in Shutterbug Showcase:
The prompt is “valid” for a week (from Thursday 9 June to Wednesday 15 June).
Please publish your post upon the theme of celebration during this time period on your own blog and leave a link to your post in the comments. Please also visit other participating members’ posts to give feedback!

For inspiration:

The Union Jack flying above the village pub, Cookham, England

England’s gone all patriotic in the last couple of weeks with Union Jacks hanging all over the place: one of the two yearly birthdays of the Queen is being celebrated… (Does this mean she gets two sets of presents?!)

CHANGES TO SHUTTERBUG SHOWCASE:

1. To make all our lives easier (and provide a little incentive for doing the photo prompt post), from now on whoever does the Thursday photo prompt, will choose the prompt for the week after. The June 16th photo post will be done by @niyati16 – your prompt is: Through the Window.
2. To help out @piyushavir, I’ve taken over the scheduling of Shutterbug Showcase for July & August. Please tag me, @arwen1968, if you want to nominate yourselves for doing the Thursday photo prompts. Thank you.
   The available dates for July are: 7 / 14/ 21 / 28 July
   The available dates for August are: 4/ 11 / 18 / 26 August

Happy blogging! 🙂

@21timetraveler, @adriennea3, @anandartist, @ananyabha, @anushababbar, @anwyn84, @arpitastravelblog, @avenscent, @aventuraroxy, @beckyaluoch, @beckybwinch, @bethanyaharvey, @brendablagdon, @camelliasentry, @cathylynnbrooks, @colettebates, @continuingwithme, @createtoenchant, @cthisnthat, @dalees107, @darshith0000, @dawnmarie823, @devilrockz, @divorcinganarc, @drmegsorick, @feelings161, @fictionalkevin, @fjjjuneau, @foodeezjunction, @francescabergamasco, @freakreborn, @garthmr, @garyloggins, @getyourlenson, @graceanneoscar, @haripriyakm, @himadas, @hlindschinger, @iamabloggertoo, @iamdonovan, @icerene01, @indira2412, @insomniacbee, @ishitarc1908, @indira2412, @ivanproust, @jahnavichintakunta, @jaipurthrumylens, @jdjung, @jenmotivates12, @jessmcombs, @joseelavallee, @jsackmom, @justdreadfull, @koolitzable, @kristinavanhoos, @laduchessederat, @laikassuvaikais, @lilacsky22, @lulaharp, @lyndapoysor, @maddy1953, @maidsdayoff, @meloheart, @meontheroad00, @missams35, @mkjackie99, @mumbletymuse, @myesteriousgirlneerja, @myusername432, @nandininautiyal, @neatusername, @niciacruz, @nikissimplelife, @niyati16, @notionlux, @ohmyglai, @oliveole, @onetarhayes, @pamkirst2014, @piyushavir, @raforbeginners, @ranu802, @revrumblefish, @robertmgoldstein, @rugwed, @sadhanacs, @sandeept252, @santoshnc, @sashay909, @sasmiths1112, @sheridanj2015, @shinepositivepower, @sirtonix, @srinathtk86, @stanito, @startingtheclimb, @sumitagrawal01, @surbhisachdeva89, @suzannebowditch, @theanonymoustalker, @thedesivagabond, @thegeneviever, @thepreciouslifeofprecious, @vellissima, @vikrambishla, @vnajac, @wanderlaur, @wanderlusteternal, @welshshortbread, @whatsandrathinks, @wordscoffeeandlacedresses, @wwwpalfitness, @wynstep, @xaranahara

 
#photopost, #weekly, #weeklyfeatures

Confirmations for Weekly Schedule!

Hello All,

This post is to confirm schedule of weekly features February 2 to February 29.

1. Thursdays: Grammar & Punctuation:  

Please confirm for the dates Feb 4, 11, 18 and 25.  

Pam @pamkirst2014 Meg @drmegsorick Debbie @dalees107 Oneta @onetarhayes

 2. Fridays: TV Review, Book Review, 3 Quotes and 100 Word Story

 Feb 5th: This week Friday is 100 Words Story. I will post the prompt word separately, everyone interested is encouraged to participate!

Feb 12th: Anyone interested in doing a TV Show/Film Review @drmegsorick @piyushavir @joseelavallee @beckyaluoch

Feb 19th: Need volunteers for Book Review. @xaranahara @dawnmarie823 @myusername432 @adriennea3 @notionlux @iamabloggertoo @iamdonovan @jahnavichintakunta

Feb 26th: Need volunteers for 3 Quotes with Author Bio. @thegeneviever @vellissima @whatsandrathinks @jahnavichintakunta

For more information: please check Friday Feature Plan 

3. Saturdays: Creative Writing and Style:

Pam @pamkirst2014 and Meg @drmegsorick are doing it alternatively. Please confirm your dates Pam and Meg.

Anyone else willing to do them are welcome, please nominate in advance for next month. 

4. Sunday: 13 Words Story:

I will share a theme on Saturdays and anyone willing to participate can participate. You can post here or on your blog and ping-back or both.

#guestfeature, #schedule, #weekly

Quirky Anand and those…those…Snarky Grammarians!

I’m not in love with Grammarians and their devices. Not that I don’t respect them – but you see, respect and love are not the same thing. You can respect someone who makes your teeth chatter and your heart lose its rhythm. Grammarians do that to me. Their presence puts me on high alert. They make me check the teeth of my writing half a dozen times for that ugly edit error caught between them, sticking out its tongue at me; they drive me to reflect upon the fingernails of my content about as many times for an extra apostrophe or a missing comma, that could make me the butt of a Grammarian’s joke.

To snip the long tail of a long yarn short, I respect the Grammarians of the world because of their ability to make me experience performance anxiety. If I were a stand up comedian or a talk show host, they would send jitters up my spine, make me stutter, and forget my lines.

And what makes matters worse is the fact that the presence of Grammarians makes my wild errors go wilder. The disappearing commas that had no malice before, find a purpose in life, and my grammatical errors transform into the split-in-the-knickers variety. Remember the guy who sent a note to his boss congratulating his boss on his promotion – the note that said, “I offer you my wife and my heartiest congratulations!” That’s the kind of errors that chase me down, when an editor is in the vicinity.

While an apostrophe that’s misplaced innocently merely adds an ungainly scratch to your reputation, a comma that’s gone rogue on purpose can change the very definition of your life. Here’s a recent example of a apostrophe and his twin who conspired to destroy my life. When answering a comment on an Interview post at Arpita Pramanick’s blog, I happened to say, “My dying wish would be to be born in a world sans wifey and mom supporters!”

I don’t want to paint a picture of the carnage that could’ve ensued had the comment made its way to wifey’s computer (and I often blog using hers, so I am talking about a very real, a very dangerous possibility here.)

This is what performance anxiety does to well-meaning simpletons like me. So when Rashmi asked me to make a post on this forum – I got my usual edit-jitters, and I tried to wiggle out of the assignment. But she along with Meg’s “that feisty Piyusha” made me pump up my writing muscles and go for it! I did, and here I am writing a potentially explosive post. I must be masochist to write something addresses those who could make me slink into the shadows of obscurity once again – I’m lighting a fire right under the seat of their pants. (I must’ve gone soft in the head – all those edit-checks must’ve imbued into me a pathological longing to be bludgeoned into grammatical submission, or why would I attempt this blogging harakiri?)

The same fear stops me from leaving a link to the QSM Magazine here, but if you visited my blog, you’d see it plastered all over. I invite you to pick up the latest issue because in it you will find a true-to-life shot of our feisty Piyusha’s prospective groom, who I happen to meet just yesterday. If you haven’t read about my meeting with Piyusha’s alien suitor, please head over to her blog, read about it, and give the couple your blessings. I trust I am veering off from the prescribed course, I might be rapped on my knuckles by the moderators.

(Anandhotep: Now your work here is done. Go back to your tomb, get inside the sarcophagus, open your coffin and go to bed! Rashmi will pay your airfare!)

Apologies to the following members for dragging their fine names through this murky post.
@piyushavir @sashay909

#guestfeature